The Everest Centre

Fast facts

Official title: The Everest Centre for Research into Paediatric Low Grade Brain Tumours

Lead researcher: Dr David Jones

When: August 2017 to July 2022

Cost: £5 million over a period of 5 years

Research type: Paediatric, Low Grade, Quality of Life

What is it?

Located within Heidelberg's DKFZ, the Everest Centre for Research into Paediatric Low Grade Brain Tumours is a groundbreaking international research initiative bringing together experts from Germany and the UK.

Led by Dr David Jones, the research aims to propel our understanding and improve treatment for low grade brain tumours, which can often cause severe long-term health problems and in some cases can be fatal.

Dr Jones's team will focus on four interrelated streams of research:

Determining the origin of low
grade brain tumour types
Low grade brain tumours can be caused by various changes to an individual's
genetic code. The research team will use molecular diagnostics to trace the
tumour's 'cell of origin'. This will help create a classification system to
enable researchers to better target treatments to the individual's specific
alterations.

Identifying factors that affect
tumour growth
The growth environment of low grade brain tumours is of great
importance, especially as the immune system plays a vital role in regulating
tumour growth via what's known as the “oncogene-induced senescence" mechanism.
This mechanism suppresses tumour growth and could lead to clinical research
into a new form of treatment.

Developing low grade brain
tumour models and pre-clinical screening
Low grade brain tumours have been notoriously difficult to replicate
in the lab. Experts in Heidelberg and London will develop new, more accurate
tumour models to test new drugs and drug combinations.

Enabling an international
clinical trial
As part of this programme, the researchers will
work with the European Society for Paediatric Oncology to launch a clinical
trial -
LOw Grade Glioma In Children
(LOGGIC). LOGGIC is the first trial that will evaluate the impact of low grade
brain tumours and their treatment in children. This trial will assess the child's quality of
life, including visual and neurological function

Max's vlog

Max Tang is a 5th year medical student at the University of Heidelberg. In this vlog Max gives an overview about the research he is doing that is part of the overall EVEREST grant that is funded by The Brain Tumour Charity.

Why it is important?

Low grade brain tumours account for about half of all paediatric brain tumours. Yet they're often neglected in favour of their more malignant counterparts. But the often chronic nature of low grade brain tumours means they can have a lifelong burden for those affected. Symptoms of the tumour, along with the side-effects of treatment, and the constant threat of multiple tumour recurrences over long periods of time, can have a severe, negative effect on quality of life. This must change and Dr Jones's research is helping accelerate progress.

Who will it help?

Low grade brain tumours are the most common childhood primary brain tumour. Children with this tumour can go through many rounds of treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. This often has a profound long-term effect on their health and wellbeing.

This research will help these children and their families by finding tailored treatments that could improve their quality of survival, helping us to halve the harm that brain tumours have.

Milestones

Achieved

The team have analysed various DNA "tags" that can help accurately distinguish between different types of low grade brain tumours. Through this analysis, they have also discovered a new type of paediatric low grade brain tumour that has the potential to be targeted with drugs.

The researchers have outlined why pilocytic astrocytomas, the most common childhood low grade brain tumour, grow relatively slowly. These tumours secrete special molecules into their surrounding that causes them to enter a "hibernation" mode and either stop growing or grow extremely slowly.

For the upcoming LOGGIC clinical trial, the team are collaborating with a pharmaceutical company who will provide a drug that targets specific factors in tumour cells.

Upcoming

The research team are going to learn more about the tumour's environment, especially how the tumour interact with different aspects of their environment.

They are also going be looking at the pathways that are activates in tumour cells compared to healthy brain cells.

The LOGGIC trial will be launched across Europe. This study will collect molecular data on tumours, as well as quality of life information from the study participants.

The story behind The Everest Centre

Toby Ritchie was diagnosed with a low grade brain tumour at the age of five. In 2015, his dad – Rob – led a unique and physical demanding challenge – Everest in the Alps – to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity. The team raised an incredible £3m which has been put towards The Everest Centre.

We are thrilled that the money raised through Everest in the Alps is being used to establish The Everest Centre.
This pioneering research will allow scientists to accelerate progress towards finding more effective treatments for the disease and could be revolutionary in improving the lives of children living with low grade tumours.

Rob Ritchie

Research is just one other way your donation can make a difference

Your donation could help fund the following equipment Dr Jones uses for his research:

Pipet: £250A tool used in the laboratory to measure and transport accurate volumes of liquid.

Gel Chamber: £530A device that helps separate pieces of DNA that are different in length.

Vortex: £220A device used in laboratories to mix small vials.

Eppendorf Tube Box: £4A box to store small lab equipment.

DNA Quantification Device: £1300A device used to measure the amount of DNA in small samples.

In this section

Group leader Dr David Jones will be working closely with researchers in both London and Germany. They aim to make new discoveries about low grade brain tumours and translate them into new clinical treatments

History

Learn how The Everest Centre became a reality from the point of Toby's diagnosis to the fundraising efforts of Everest in the Alps